HOPKINTON – There are still questions lingering over a proposed tuition-free full day kindergarten program and its impact on next fiscal year’s budget.

The program was brought up briefly during Tuesday night’s selectmen meeting.

The town’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 is $70.6 million budget for fiscal 2015, a 4.8 percent increase over this year’s fiscal budget.

A public hearing on the budget will be held at 6:30 tonight.

The Appropriation Committee has not taken a position on the school budget of $37.3 million – a 4.9 percent increase over this year’s budget, according to committee Chairman Mike Manning.

Manning said the School Department was initially asked to keep its budget increase to 4.4 percent over this year’s budget, but the increased costs associated with the full-day kindergarten program brings it to 4.9 percent.

The new program will cost $585,000 because the state does not provide Chapter 70 money in the program’s first year, Manning said. The state could provide up to $120,000 annually in subsequent years.

Manning said the budget impact of the proposed program is $181,281 between the 4.4 percent and the 4.9 percent.

During his presentation, Manning said many of the increased future costs, such as new hires, are unknown.

"That is hard to predict," he said.

Manning said the main debate over the program is whether the entire town has properly vetted the costs.

However, Superintendent Cathy MacLeod has said the program could reduce special needs assistance by $200,000, he said. The cost will be further be reduced by Chapter 70 money and one-time costs for furniture, according to the town’s strategic initiatives.

The initiative a priority based on changes of the state requirements, according to the plan. The entire program will be located at the Center Elementary School.

"By not offering a tuition-free full day kindergarten, there will continue to be an educational discrepancy," the initiative reads. " … It is the responsibility of the schools to seek creative solutions to current space restrictions to enhance the instructional program.

Manning said the Appropriation Committee continues to work on its recommendation for next year’s budget.

Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 508-626-4338 and jphelps@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JPhelps_MW.